Hermitage Amsterdam and Amstelhof

Artist biographies

Georges Dufrenoy

Georges Dufrenoy (1870-1943) originally intended to become an architect but eventually chose to work as an artist. From 1887 he studied at the Académie Julian in Paris; from 1890 he spent two years in Désiré Laugier’s studio. Dufrenoy initially worked in a style largely influenced by Impressionism and the work of Monet, simplifying his subjects’ forms and endeavouring to produce strong compositions. Later his work displayed a greater resemblance to that of the Fauves, with whom he exhibited at one of their final group shows, the 1908 Salon d’Automne. Dufrenoy travelled a great deal, particularly to Venice, his favourite city, to which he returned almost every year. He specialised in landscapes and city scenes. Dufrenoy contributed work to a number of major exhibitions, including the 1903 Salon International de Reims and the 1904 Salon des Indépendants. He eventually became a member and governor of the Salon d’Automne. Dufrenoy experienced his greatest successes after the First World War: in 1929, for example, he received the Carnegie Prize in Pittsburgh; in 1936 he became a member of the Prix de Rome jury.